Gold Loan - Faqs

Gold is treated as one of the most precious metals in the world. Its popularity in India especially, has remained consistent despite volatile market trends, recession and other economic factors.
Notwithstanding the ever-rising prices of the metal, gold is often purchased as a long-term investment; whether it is the form of jewellery, bullion (gold bars) or gold exchange traded funds. It is one of the few things people rely on during testing times as gold can bail them out of financial worries. That’s right; you can take out a loan against gold, in case you need funds urgently. In this article, we answer some frequently asked questions about this loan.

What are gold loans?

Gold loans are those loans provided by banks and NBFCs in which you can take out a cash amount in exchange of gold. The gold remains in the custody of the lender, as collateral, until the borrower repays the loan.

What is the loan repayment tenure?

Loans taken against gold are usually short period loans taken by borrowers in need of urgent cash. You can commit the repayment tenure to your lender. Typically you can repay the loan in as less as 1 day or up to a certain number of instalments (generally 48 instalments), depending upon the agreement you arrive at with the lender.

What is the typical loan disbursal time?

Loans taken against gold are generally disbursed instantly. However, to do so, the lender may ask you to provide proof of purchase or other necessary documents. Lenders may also need to verify the value of the gold before considering your loan application and amount that can be sanctioned.

What is the interest rate charged against the loan?

Lenders can charge a gold loan interest rate at their discretion. There is no set or base interest rate when it comes to these loans. Since it is a secured loan, banks typically charge a smaller interest rate on these loans, as opposed to non-banking finance companies and private lenders.

What is the maximum loan amount that I can get?

The maximum loan amount also varies from lender to lender. The borrower needs to fit a certain eligibility criteria of the lending institution. It is possible for one to get a loan against gold for as low as ₹1,500 to as high as ₹10,000,000 (1 Crore).

Is it safe to pledge your gold to a bank?

Yes, pledging your gold to a bank is extremely safe as banks exercise great precautions in storing your gold.
The gold is locked away safely until you return the loan amount in full, after which it is returned to you.

What documents do I need to provide to take out the loan?

You would be required to provide government approved ID and address proof documents such as your passport, PAN card, Aadhaar card, ration card, utility bills) as well as the original gold bills (proof of purchase) to get your gold loan passed.